26 Films you cannot miss at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival (Part 1)

By Asian Film Festival on October 21, 2018 • ( Leave a comment )

These are twenty-six films you cannot miss at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival which will take place from October 25th – November 3rd, in Tokyo, Japan.

And Your Bird Can Sing by Sho Miyake – Japan | 2018 – 106 min.
Section: Japan Now

Three of Japan’s hottest young actors — Tasuku Emoto, Shota Sometani, Shizuka Ishibashi — play friends, lovers and rivals in this Hokkaido-set youth drama by emerging filmmaker Sho Miyake.

Schedule:
November 1st | Thursday | TOHO CINEMAS Roppongi Hills SCREEN 1 | 12:55 pm (Few Seats Left)

Trailer:

BNK48: Girls Don’t Cry by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit
Thailand | 2018 108 min.
Section: CROSSCUT ASIA

A documentary that follows 26 members of the Thai idol girl group BNK48 and offers an honest look at their lives, dreams, and hard work while making it through the cutthroat idol system.

Trailer:

Chaotic Love Poems by Garin Nugroho – Indonesia | 2016 – 91 min.
Section: CROSSCUT ASIA

A cheerful yet serious Indonesian Romeo and Juliet. A boy and a girl from the same district, but with difficult childhoods and other reasons not to acknowledge their love.

Trailer:

In the life of music by Visal Sok, Caylee So – Cambodia | 2018 – 91 min.
Section: CROSSCUT ASIA

In the Life of Music is a powerful intergenerational tale that explores love, war, and a family’s relationship to the song “Champa Battambang”, made famous by Sinn Sisamouth, the King of Cambodian music.

Trailer:

Just Only Love by Rikiya Imaizumi – Japan | 2018 – 123 min.
Section: Competition

Rikiya Imaizumi, a leading director of love stories, has filmed the novel “Just Only Love”, written by Mitsuyo Kakuta. In a comical yet heart-rending one-sided love story, Teruko devotes her life to love.

Lakbayan (Journey) by Brillante Mendoza, Lav Diaz, Kidlat Tahimik
Philippines | 2018 – 118 min.
Section: World Focus

Lakbayan is an omnibus film that consists of Brillante Mendoza’s Desfocado, Lav Diaz’s Hugaw and Kidlat Tahimik’s Kabunyan’s Journey.

Trailer:

Long Time No Sea by Tsui Yung-hui – Taiwan | 2018 – 97 min.
Section: Asian Future

Set on Lanyu island, amid beautiful ocean, Tsui Yung-hui’s debut feature, casting local islanders, depicts a new teacher and his students aiming for an Aboriginal dance competition in Kaohsiung.

Trailer:

Lust in a Karaoke Box by Shinya Tamada – Japan | 2018 – 100 min.
Section: Japanese Cinema Splash

A film adaptation of a play of the same title by Tamada Kikaku which is led by Shinya Tamada. When members of a student club gather at a karaoke box, events don’t unfold in predictable ways, leading to a uniquely absurd ending when dawn breaks.

Trailer:

Lying to Mom by Katsumi Nojiri – Japan | 2018 – 133 min.
Section: Japanese Cinema Splash

When the eldest Suzuki son suddenly dies, he leaves a bereaved and bewildered family. The shock is so great that his mother loses her memory, and there is both sadness and humor in the attempt to recover.

Trailer:

Melancholic by Seiji Tanaka – Japan | 2018 – 113 min.
Section: Japanese Cinema Splash

Kazuhiko, a graduate of a prestigious university, wasn’t enjoying his life, until he takes a job at a bathhouse. Then he discovers that the baths are used as a space for killing people after closing hours.

Trailer:

Miss Baek by Lee Ji-won – Korea | 2018 – 98 min.
Section: Asian Future

A woman meets an abused little girl. Unable to turn away because of her own past pain, she tries to save the girl, but the mother stands against her. Han Ji-min from The Age of Shadows stars in this true-story drama.

Trailer:

My Train Dairy by Yoshihisa Kodama – Japan | 2018 – 109 min.
Section: Special Screening

A moving story of the “Echizen Railway”, revived by citizens in Fukui. A railway attendant rebuilds the bonds in her family. Laughter and tears for everyone who cherishes their family and home town.

Schedule:
October 30th | Tuesday | TOHO CINEMAS Roppingi Hills SCREEN 1 | 20:30 pm